Dispensing container



Aug. 27, 1940. w. H. BELLAH 2,212,582

' DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed July 22, 1938 I Z2 Z4 35 2F 12 4,;

Patented Aug. 27, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPENSING CONTAINER William H. Bellah, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application July 22, 1938, Serial No. 220,708 6 Claims. (01. 221-51) This invention relates to improvements in con tainers adapted to dispense various liquids such as lubricating oils, cleaning fluids, insecticidal sprays, etc., in regulated quantity and with the least expenditure of effort.

Heretofore dispensing containers either employed a flexible diaphragm, such as the bottom of an oil can, for the purpose of compressing the 7, air or other gas from above the liquid and thereby force the liquid out of the container, or such devices employed reciprocating plungers coupled with numerous valves and other structural elements. Neither of these prior types of devices is entirely satisfactory sincethe ordinary oil can type does not, discharge liquids in a regulated manner and furthermore when used for the purpose of dispensing lubricants, have the tendency to trap air within the lubricant. As a result, the lubricant discharged from the nozzle or tip contains bubbles of air. When such discontinuous mixture is applied to a bearing, air exists in the oil ducts and on the bearing surfaces, permitting the bearings to become unduly heated due to the presence of the discontinuous oil film. Devices which employ reciprocating plungers are expensive, leak, and cannot be caused to discharge predetermined quantities of liquid.

The present invention generally stated relates to a simplified construction for a dispensing container in which a flexible diaphragm is employed,

this diaphragm being coupled with a small chamber containing a solution of the liquid within the container. Flexing of the diaphragm causes the liquid to be discharged through a suitable nozzle.

An object of the present invention therefore is to provide a simple diaphragm-actuated dispensing container.

A further object is to provide a combination of elements whereby various liquids, such as lubricants, cleaning solvents, insecticidal sprays, etc., may be regulatably discharged from a container.

'A still further object is to disclose and pro vide a relatively simple and inexpensive form of construction for a dispensing container.

These and other objects, uses, advantages, adaptations and modifications of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of certain illustrative forms in which the invention is embodied.

. In order to facilitate understanding, reference will be had to the appended drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, of one form of the dispensing container.

Fig. 2 is a horizontalsection taken along the plane 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through a modified form of the container.

Fig. 4 is a front View of a still further form in 5 which the inventionmay be embodied.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken along the plane 55 of Fig. 4. h

In the form of the device shown in Figs; land 2, the container comprises side walls 4- having the opposing ends 6 and] connected to a partition member 8. The partition member extends vertically and is provided with side flanges 9 and I0 and a horizontally extending-top flangev II. A flexible diaphragm [2 has its end portions folded around the vertical flanges 9 and H] (as shown in Fig. 2) and encircled by the'ends 5 and 1 of the side wall member 4. A single soldered seam is thus formed at the ends 6 and I, such seam firmly holding the ends of the side walls in contact with the partition member 8 and the flexible diaphragm l2.

The lower portions of the partition 8,side walls 4 and-flexible diaphragm I2 may be held together by means of any suitable bottom member, such as the member l3, it being understood that the form of the joint used may be materially varied from that shown in the drawing. The upper portion of the container may be provided with a preformed top [4 which, in the illustrations, is provided with a screw thread adapted to receive the molded or preformed threaded cap or closure member I5.

The lower portion of the partition 8 is preferably provided With a port connecting the interior of the container with the small chamber [6 formed between the partition 8 and the flexible member l2. Such port is indicated at 20 and may be formed directly in the lower portion of the partition 8. As shown in Fig. 1, the lower portion of the member 8 is deformed so as to form a cage for a check valve, in this instance the ball valve 2|.

Directed outwardly from the upper portion of the chamber I6 is a port 22 through which the liquid may be discharged. In Fig. 1 a fitting 23 extends through the port, such fitting carrying a check valve 24 adapted to permit the flow of liquid from the chamber [6 outwardly to a spout or nozzle 25 clamped or otherwise suitably attached to the fitting 23. A washer 26 may be positioned within the spout 25 so as to act as a stop for a spring 21 acting against the ball valve 24 and adapted to maintain the valve upon its seat.

I A suitable air inlet may be provided in the 55 tion 353 is formed in the closure member and a cage Si is attached to the lower side of such closure member, the cage containing a ball valve and alight spring adapted to maintain the ball valve against the port 30.

The partition member 8 is preferably made of metal which is of the-same gauge or of slightly heavier gauge than the side walls 4. The flexible diaphragm i2 is preferably of lighter gauge. For example, the partition member 8 may be formed of metal having a thickness on the order of 0.012",

whereas the flexible diaphragm 12 may be made of metal such as phosphor bronze having a thickness on the order of 0.0045. Inactual use, after the container has been filled with-a liquid to be dispensed, such as, for example, lubricating oil,

the entire container may be grasped by the hand with the fingers pressed against the flexible diaphragm l2. Byrapidly flexing the diaphragm 52 with the fingers, air originallypresent within the small chamber l6 will be displaced through the port 22 and liquid from the container will pass into the small chamber i6 and will then be discharged through the discharge port 22 and nozzle 25. Thereafter pure lubricant or other liquid from the container will be discharged through the'nozzle' in quantity to be determined by the rapidity with which the diaphragm I2 is flexed or the extent to which it is flexed. Air is admitted through the port 3!] in accordance with the quantity of liquid dispensed from the container. Attention is called to'the fact that the side wall member 3 adjacent its ends is bent (as shown in Fig. 2) so as to provide spaces 32 and 33 for the circumferential expansion of the diaphragm member i2 when such diaphragm is depressed radially.

- It is to be understood that the specific form of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is simply illustrative of one of a number of different forms. In Fig. 3 the internal partition is indicated at 8' andis provided with an inlet port 281- and an outlet port 22'. The check valve cooperating with the inlet port 2E3 is retained in position by means of a stop ill and a light spring 4!, the stop 40 being attached to the outer wall of the partition member 3'. No check valve is associated with the discharge port 22. Instead, a cap 42 is attached to the flexible diaphragm l2 around the discharge port 22. The cap l2 is provided with a minute perforation t3 and carries an externally threaded member 3 3 spaced from the discharge port 22 and also from the perforation 53. When a container made in accordance with Fig. 3 is actuated by flexing the diaphragm from within the container will pass through the chamber between the flexible diaphragm and the partition 5 and be discharged through the perforation 43 in the form of a fine whirling spray. The externally threaded member 45 forms a circuitous path for the liquid and imparts rotation to the liquid, such rotation causing the liquid to whirl out of the perforation i3 and form a disseminated spray. The form of device shown in Fig. 3 is illustrative of dispensing containers particularly adapted for use in connection with window cleaning solvents, fiy sprays, insecticides, etc.

A more elaborate form' of dispensing device characterized by the ability of the container "to retain its'contents irrespective of the position of the container isshown in Figs. 4 and 5. This leak-proof type of dispensing container may at, liquid carry the flexible diaphragm 50 as an externally applied panel, the side walls 5| of the container forming the equivalent of the partition members 8 and B referred to in the previously described forms.

The flexible diaphragm 5t may be provided with a bead 52 formed therein adjacent points of wardly toward the bottom to form the loop El from whence the conduit may again extend upwardly 'andbe admitted from the container as at 62.

- A container of the type shown in Figs. 4 and 5 will not leak or spill liquid contained therein irrespective of the position assumed by the container.- Flexure of the diaphragm 5i! willcause the contents to be positively discharged through the nozzle 58. r

I claim:

l. A dispensing device including a container and having a vertical extending sidewall, a partition and a flexiblediaphragm joined to the side wall to form a vertical chamber separated from the container, said diaphragm being normally flexed outwardly and forming a continuation of the side wall, a valve port between the container and the chamber, and a discharge port outwardly'of the container from said chamber, the said device being adapted to be grasped by the hand or" the user with fingers in contact with said diaphragm.

2. A dispensing device including a container and having a vertically extending side wall, a partition and flexible diaphragm joined to the side wall to form a separated vertical chamber, said diaphragm being normally flexed outwardly, a valve-d port between the container and the chamber through said partition, a discharge port outwardly of the container from the said chamber and extending in a direction substantially at right angles to the vertical wall, and a breather means permitting air to be drawn into the container as liquid is'dispensed from the container, the said device being adapted to be grasped by the hand of the user with fingers in contact with said diaphragm.

3. A dispensing device including a container and having a vertically extending side wall, a partition and flexible diaphragm joined to the side wall to form 'a vertical chamber separated from said container, said diaphragm being normall flexed outwardly, a valved port between the container and the chamber extending through said partition, a valve discharge port extending laterally outwardly of the container from said chamber, and breather means in the container permitting air to be drawn into the container as liquid is discharged therefrom, the said device being adapted to be grasped by the hand of the user with fingers in contact with said diaphragm.

4. A dispensing device including a container and having a vertically extending side wall, a partition and flexible diaphragm joined to the side wall to form a'vertical chamber separated from the said container, said diaphragm being normally flexed outwardly and forming a continuation of the side wall, a valved port between the container and the chamber, a discharge port extending laterally outwardly of the container from said chamber, spring-urged valve means mounted in connection with said discharge port,

said spring being operative to normally urge said valve to closed position, and air vent means extending to the interior of said container above the normal liquid level in said container, the said device being adapted to be grasped by, the hand of the user with fingers in contact with said diaphragm.

5. A dispensing device including a container and having a vertically extending side wall, a

flexible diaphragm forming a part of said side wall and extending a substantial distance of the height of the container, a partition separating said diaphragm from the interior of said container and forming with the diaphragm a vertical chamber separated from the container, a valve port between the container and the chamber, and a discharge port outwardly of the container from said chamber, the said device being adapted to be grasped by the hand of the user with fingers in contact with said diaphragm.

6. A dispensing device including a container and having a vertically extending side wall, a flexible diaphragm forming a part of the side wall and extending a substantial distance of the height of the container, a partition separating said diaphragm from the interior of the container and forming with the diaphragm a vertical chamber separated from the container, a valve port between the container and the chamber at the lower portion of the chamber, and a discharge port extending outwardly of the upper portion of said chamber, the said device being adapted to be grasped by the hand of the user with fingers in contact with said diaphragm.

' WILLIAM H. BELLAH. 

